Keyswitch

Abstract

A keyswitch includes a casing, a key cap and a support device rotatably disposed between the key cap and the casing. One of the casing and the key cap has a first magnetic area and the support device has a second magnetic area corresponding to the first magnetic area. When the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first and second magnetic areas keeps the key cap at a non-pressed position. When the key cap is pressed by an external force such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area, the key cap moves from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position. When the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A keyswitch comprising:
 a casing; 
 a key cap; and 
 a support device disposed between the casing and the key cap and rotatably connected to the key cap and the casing respectively, the key cap moving with the support device between a non-pressed position and a pressed position; 
 wherein one of the casing and the key cap has a first magnetic area and the support device has a second magnetic area corresponding to the first magnetic area; when the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by an external force such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area, the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position; 
 wherein the support device comprises a first support member and a second support member, the first support member has a first linking portion, the second support member has a second linking portion, the first linking portion abuts against the second support member, and the second linking portion abuts against the first support member such that the first support member and the second support member rotates simultaneously when the key cap is pressed or the external force is removed. 
 
     
     
       2. The keyswitch of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area is a magnetic object and the other one of the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area is a magnetic object or a magnetic induction material. 
     
     
       3. The keyswitch of  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a base, the base has the first magnetic area, the support device comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the base, the second connecting portion is connected to the key cap, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, the second magnetic area pivots on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position to the pressed position, when the external force is removed, the first magnetic area attracts the second magnetic area magnetically and then the second magnetic area drives the support device to pivot on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position to the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       4. The keyswitch of  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a base, the base has the first magnetic area, the casing further comprises a frame disposed on the base, the key cap is disposed in the frame and is connected to the frame by a flexible material, and the flexible material surrounds the key cap such that there is no gap between the key cap and the frame. 
     
     
       5. The keyswitch of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first support member and the second support member has the second magnetic area, one of the key cap and the casing has the first magnetic area, and the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by the external force, a distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area increases and the magnetic attraction force decreases so that the key cap moves with the support device toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area decreases due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       6. A keyswitch comprising:
 a base having a first magnetic area; 
 a key cap; and 
 a support device disposed between the base and the key cap and rotatably connected to the key cap and the base respectively, the key cap moving with the support device between a non-pressed position and a pressed position, the support device having a second magnetic area corresponding to the first magnetic area; 
 wherein when the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by an external force such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area, the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position; 
 wherein the support device comprises a first support member and a second support member, the first support member has a first linking portion, the second support member has a second linking portion, the first linking portion abuts against the second support member, and the second linking portion abuts against the first support member such that the first support member makes the second support member rotate simultaneously when the first support member rotates. 
 
     
     
       7. The keyswitch of  claim 6 , further comprising a frame disposed on the base, the key cap being disposed in the frame and connected to the frame by a flexible material, the flexible material surrounding the key cap such that there is no gap between the key cap and the frame. 
     
     
       8. The keyswitch of  claim 6 , wherein the support device comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the base, the second connecting portion is connected to the key cap, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, the second magnetic area pivots on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the first magnetic area attracts the second magnetic area magnetically and then the second magnetic area drives the support device to pivot on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       9. The keyswitch of  claim 8 , wherein the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the first connecting portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       10. The keyswitch of  claim 6 , wherein one of the first support member and the second support member has the second magnetic area, the base has the first magnetic area, and the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, a distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area increases and the magnetic attraction force decreases so that the key cap moves with the support device toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area decreases due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       11. The keyswitch of  claim 6 , wherein the first support member is formed as a V-shaped structure, the V-shaped structure has a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion, the first end portion is rotatably connected to the key cap, the central portion is rotatably connected to the base, the second magnetic area is disposed on the second end portion, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, the support device pivots on the central portion such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the first magnetic area attracts the second magnetic area magnetically so that the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       12. The keyswitch of  claim 11 , wherein an angle included between the first end portion and the second end portion of the V-shaped structure is larger than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The keyswitch of  claim 11 , wherein the central portion has a first connecting portion, the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the central portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       14. A keyswitch for user input comprising:
 a base; 
 a key cap; 
 a first and second support member each having a first end portion coupled to the key cap, and a second end portion engaging the other support member in an interleaved relation, at least one of the second end portions being formed of or coupled to a second magnetic mass, the first and second support members being rotatably connected to the base; and 
 a first magnetic mass applying a magnetic field to the second magnetic mass to bias the key cap into a non-pressed position; 
 wherein the first support member comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the base, the second connecting portion is connected to the key cap, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, the first support member rotates on the first connecting portion such that a distance between the second magnetic mass and the first magnetic mass increases; when the external force is removed, the first magnetic mass attracts the second magnetic mass to drive the first support member to rotate on the first connecting portion such that the distance between the second magnetic mass and the first magnetic mass reduces. 
 
     
     
       15. The keyswitch of  claim 14 , wherein the second end portion of the first support member has a first linking portion, the second end portion of the second support member has a second linking portion, the first linking portion abuts against the second support member, and the second linking portion abuts against the first support member to form the interleaved relation between the first and second support members such that the first support member makes the second support member rotate simultaneously when the first support member rotates. 
     
     
       16. The keyswitch of  claim 15 , wherein one of the first support member and the second support member has the second magnetic mass, the base has the first magnetic mass, and a magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic mass and the second magnetic mass keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by an external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, a distance between the first magnetic mass and the second magnetic mass increases; when the external force is removed, the distance between the first magnetic mass and the second magnetic mass decreases due to the magnetic attraction force. 
     
     
       17. The keyswitch of  claim 14 , wherein the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the first connecting portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       18. The keyswitch of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second support member each is a V-shaped structure, the V-shaped structure has a central portion formed between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion is rotatably connected to the key cap, and the central portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       19. The keyswitch of  claim 18 , wherein an angle included between the first end portion and the second end portion of the V-shaped structure is larger than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       20. The keyswitch of  claim 18 , wherein the central portion has the first connecting portion, the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the central portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       21. A keyswitch comprising:
 a base having a first magnetic area; 
 a key cap; and 
 a support device disposed between the base and the key cap and rotatably connected to the key cap and the base respectively, the key cap moving with the support device between a non-pressed position and a pressed position, the support device having a second magnetic area corresponding to the first magnetic area; 
 wherein when the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by an external force such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area, the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position; 
 wherein the support device comprises a first support member with a V-shaped structure, the V-shaped structure has a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion, the first end portion is rotatably connected to the key cap, the central portion is rotatably connected to the base, the second magnetic area is disposed on the second end portion, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, the support device pivots on the central portion such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the first magnetic area attracts the second magnetic area magnetically so that the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position. 
 
     
     
       22. The keyswitch of  claim 21 , further comprising a frame disposed on the base, the key cap being disposed in the frame and connected to the frame by a flexible material, the flexible material surrounding the key cap such that there is no gap between the key cap and the frame. 
     
     
       23. The keyswitch of  claim 21 , wherein the support device comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the base, the second connecting portion is connected to the key cap, when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, the second magnetic area pivots on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the first magnetic area attracts the second magnetic area magnetically and then the second magnetic area drives the support device to pivot on the first connecting portion such that the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area and the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       24. The keyswitch of  claim 23 , wherein the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the first connecting portion is rotatably connected to the base. 
     
     
       25. The keyswitch of  claim 21 , wherein the support device further comprises a second support member, one of the first support member and the second support member has the second magnetic area, the base has the first magnetic area, and the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area keeps the key cap at the non-pressed position; when the key cap is pressed by the external force, which overcomes the magnetic attraction force, a distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area increases and the magnetic attraction force decreases so that the key cap moves with the support device toward the pressed position; when the external force is removed, the distance between the first magnetic area and the second magnetic area decreases due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device toward the non-pressed position. 
     
     
       26. The keyswitch of  claim 21 , wherein an angle included between the first end portion and the second end portion of the V-shaped structure is larger than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       27. The keyswitch of  claim 21 , wherein the central portion has a first connecting portion, the base has a connecting socket, the first connecting portion is confined in the connecting socket such that the central portion is rotatably connected to the base.